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A Wise Guy
Also known as {The Wise Guy}
(1910) United States of America
B&W : Split-reel / 368 feet
Directed by (unknown)
Cast: (unknown)
Essanay Film Manufacturing Company production; distributed by Essanay Film Manufacturing Company. / Released 20 April 1910; in a split-reel with She Wanted a Bow-Wow (1910). / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format.
Comedy-Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? At the breakfast table, Mrs. Bluffem reads an item in the morning’s paper which voices a warning to business men: “Be wary of a blue-eyed maiden who will enter your office, state that she is Brown’s stenographer across the hall, that Mr. Brown left the office without cashing the check for her salary, and would you be so kind as to accommodate her, etc., etc.” Mrs. Bluffem calls her husband’s attention to the item and asks him to read it. But, no, no! He has no time for newspaper quibbage, he must catch his downtown car. “But you ought to know,” persists Mrs. Bluffem. But Bluffem waves her proudly aside with a superior look of all-knowing intelligence. “No one could fool me, my dear,” he says, “They would have to be very slick, indeed.” The scene changes to Bluffem’s office, the time, 5:15 p. m. Bluffem’s own unattractive type-pounder has left for the day and his nibs, with his feet cocked on his desk, lights a cigar and sits musing and ruminating over the big deal he has just closed. Suddenly there is a knock at the door and in answer to Bluffem’s gruff invitation to come in, the door swings open and a shy maiden, with large blue eyes, demure demeanor, etc. (you know her) quietly enters, asking with just the right amount of slight confusion if Mr. Bluffem would be so kind as to accommodate her about a check, which her employer, et cetera. When Bluffem sees the girl, he swings his feet hurriedly from the desk and arises bowing. Unusually susceptible to a “sweet young thing,” Bluffem eagerly walks into the trap, and a few moments later when the door closes behind his visitor he arises and with that “oh, you kid” expression begins whistling something about “those bewitching eyes.” That evening Mrs. Bluffem calls her husband’s attention to the newspaper item and asks if she shall read it. With a bored expression Bluffem consents. As she reads, her husband becomes keenly attentive, and in the reading of the description of the adventuress who has been preying upon downtown business men Bluffem starts, his mouth opens and he slowly drags the bogus check from his pocket. While his wife continues to read he deftly crumples it and sinks back in his chair. “Why, John,” his wife exclaims, “was not that a check you destroyed!” “No, no, my dear,” he returns, “it was just a little notice electing me a member of the goat club, that’s all!”
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 30 April 1910, page ?] A comedy full of all the snap and go usually incorporated in the films sent out by this house. One may imagine, perhaps, the difficulties that befall a wise guy of the type depicted here, but even though they may possess a vivid imagination, they would never conceive more than a fraction of all the complications which might arise. This picture tells the story in snappy action and illustrates it with clear and even photography.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 15 February 2024.
References: Website-AFI; Website-IMDb.
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